Ealing Hospital agency workers renew strike action over pay

EALING Hospital workers employed by an outside agency are striking from today (Friday) in a dispute over working conditions – for the third time in two months.

Action over what is seen as a two-tier workforce at the hospital will continue until next Friday at 7am.

The 150 taking part are employed by Compass Medirest as domestic and catering staff, porters and help desk workers.

Compass Medirest staff are asking for a pay rise to the London living wage of £8.80 per hour. They are currently paid the minimum of £6.31, 44% less than the lowest comparable rate for London NHS workers.

Previous strikes by the company’s employees in February and March, over pay and conditions, failed to prompt the response they were looking for.

Stella George-Duesbury, GMB regional organiser, said the union was prepared to negotiate with the company.